Phoenix Takes His Cash Act to Folsom

Walk the Line leading man Joaquin Phoenix mirrored his movie subject Johnny Cash by performing for more than 50 inmates at Folsom State Prison in California on Tuesday, following a screening of the biopic of the late country legend.

Phoenix, who sang his own numbers in the movie (and is heavily favored to receive a Best Actor Oscar nomination when they are announced Jan. 31), played several songs at the prison's Greystone Chapel, including Cash's Folsom Prison Blues, the Associated Press reports.

Referring to his on-screen costar Reese Witherspoon, who was a Folsom no-show, Phoenix said: "I know you guys would probably rather see Reese."

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As depicted in the movie – and as actually happened in real life – Cash turned his January 1968 Folsom performance into a hit live album.

Outfitted in Cash's trademark black, a self-critical Phoenix, 31, apologized for his "rusty" performance, explaining that he hasn't played since he wrapped the movie. "I don't know if you've noticed, but I've messed up like 40 times," he said. "I'm all over the place."

One inmate asked Phoenix if he had learned to play guitar for the movie. Replied the actor: "John wasn't (Jimi) Hendrix. It was real simple ... we rehearsed a lot."